Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

At 317 pages, the third book in the Potter series is twice the length of the first two. While the first book started very slowly, and was a rather tedious read, this book has a very well-developed plot. There are the usual inclusions of charms, magic words, etc., but to a much lesser degree, numerically and proportionally, than either of the first two books.

I find it curious, but the body of the story notably lacks much reference to the basic witchy stuff found copiously in the first books. Moreover, after early introduction of nasty concepts, there is very little of this beyond sightings of the Dementors and events with the Divination teacher, until the last 1/5 of the book...

How many eye-witnesses are enough to establish a fact? Is it circular reasoning to use the Bible to support facts in the Bible? According to Old Testament Law for the Jews, any testimony was to be received only on the word of two or three witnesses. Within the pages of Scripture, we find many, many witnesses, across hundreds of years, hundreds of miles, and diverse backgrounds and situations, giving first-hand accounts of the most important events in world history.

Nothing is more critical to human reality than the resurrection of Jesus Christ. If Christ did not rise from the dead, men have no recourse for sin other than judgment. But if Jesus Christ rose from the dead as the Bible proclaims, then every person who ever lives must consider and engage this important fact, for if Christ rose ...

This second book is significantly more sinister than the first one, introducing within the plot the demonic possession of an unwitting and unwilling little girl, for the purpose of destroying both Harry and any wizards at Hogwarts who have “Muggle” ancestry.

The plot is much better developed than the first book, while continuing to offer potions, spells and magic words for readers to “try out” if they are so inclined.

Harry Potter is a wizard. He is a smart aleck who lies, hates, disobeys those in authority, plans vengeance,

His friends steal, are malicious etc. Those who follow the rules, represented by Hermione, are ridiculed, and become “nicer” when they stop doing so. (p. 133) These are the good guys.

The book introduces many occult concepts: telepathy, astral projection, e.s.p., familiars, inner guides, power objects, omens, astrology, death as a new adventure (vis: reincarnation), the zodiac, and love “power”...

It remains a mystery to me how any parent could conclude that the Harry Potter books are suitable reading material for their children, as young as eight years old. In one case, the answer has been reduced to “Just because the lifestyle doesn’t match mine, doesn’t mean you throw the book out.” Certainly that statement is true as it stands, but it is an over-simplification of the issue, and demonstrates either profound ignorance, or just plain deceit.

It isn’t just the problem of “good guys” who lie, steal, cheat, disobey, hate, swear, get drunk, gamble, seek vengeance, and consider killing their enemies; nor the frequent descriptions of disgusting things or behaviours; nor the total immersion of the reader in elements of witchcraft, including detailed spells, potions, charms and sym...

Christians believe the Old Testament, but do not follow it. What does this mean?

The Old Testament is history, prophecy, and commands to a specific people. Insofar as we read of first things (In the beginning…), early development of a region and of a people, and God’s declaration of what would come after, Christians believe the Old Testament. We recognize and accept that God Which created the universe was the sole presence before creation, and has provided us with information concerning that event that is incontrovertible because He caused it to happen...

Jeremiah 7:8-10 Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit. Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not, and come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, “We are delivered to do all these abominations?”‘”

The words were spoken to Israel, but there is a principle for Christ’s church as well: We were not delivered from the condemnation of sin so that we should continue to live in sin, doing those things which God has condemned, and despising God in favour of other, more appealing “gods” that serve our satisfaction instead of our deepest need.

God’s word to us is clear concerning what is right and wrong, what is wicked and what is good...

37 But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

The passage above keeps coming to mind as I watch the happenings all over the world, and the chaos and destruction being waged in the United States, first against the campaign of Donald Trump for president, and since his election, and I wonder.

If we want to know what the situation will be like before Christ returns, we need to answer the question, “How were the “days of Noah” and what can we expect in the days of the “coming of the son of Man”?

In the book of Genesis, the situation in Noah’s day was described like this:

1 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,